Box Score Great Falls, Mont. – A goal in the final minute of the first half proved to be the difference as the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) men's soccer team scored a 1-0 victory over the University of Providence in the home opener for the Argos. David Calle Ramos (JR/Madrid, Spain) scored the lone goal of the contest to keep the Eagles undefeated in 2021.
Embry-Riddle (3-0) had a great opportunity to break on top early when the Eagles were awarded a penalty kick in the sixth minute. Jacob Baker (SR/Graham, Wash.) took the kick, but the Providence (0-1) goalkeeper was up to the challenge and made the save. ERAU continued to generate scoring opportunities, but two more saves by the Argos goalie and a shot by Paul Fulop (JR/Chicago, Ill.) that hit the crossbar kept it a 0-0 game. The Eagles put more offensive pressure on the Providence defense in the final five minutes of the half, seeing one shot saved and two more blocked by the Argos defense. Finally, in the final minute of the half a corner kick by Simon Jensen (SR/Boras, Sweden) gave ERAU another opportunity and this time Ramos was able to cash in with just 12 seconds left in the half.
Embry-Riddle dominated to start the second half, rattling off seven shots in the first 11 and a half minutes. Three more saves and another hit crossbar kept the Eagles from adding to their lead, however. After that it settled down to a midfield game, with only four shots taken in nearly 25 minutes. Things picked up in the final 15 minutes and Providence got off a shot on the ERAU goal in the 85th minute that Alastair Stark (SR/Sevenoaks, England) made the save on to keep the Eagles in front. He finished with two saves as he collected his sixth career shutout in goal.
